@Rootfireember Exactly that! It may not seem it on casual examination, but there's a vast difference between fan-designed apparel and home-made knock-offs. It's the same as the one between mutualistic and parasitic symbiosis.
Plus, it's just bloody bad form to post instructions for replicating official merchandise ON THE OFFICIAL FUCKING FORUM. If you have an issue with price or shipping, that's fine and easily discussed/addressed if it's shared, but think about the circumstances of everyone involved before you post.
I'm having a time out until I can learn some manners.
@ Paul - Hah! So what you're saying is that official merc are pilot fish, and homemade rip-offs are nematodes.
I only have an A-level in biology, so I'm pretty inept, but I'd describe the relationship as more akin to mutualism, than say - parasitism or symbiosis.
After all, even homemade-stuff, while unprofitable to you - is still in many ways free publicity, of which of course the effectiveness of this is a matter of contention.
Agree with you on the second point, though - bit salt in wound, though doubtless unintended.
Mutualism is a form of symbiosis in which both parties benefit as far as I'm aware, and parasitic symbiosis is where only one party benefits. Both come under the heading of symbiosis, by which I meant the relationship between fans and franchise. I'm drawing the line here between home made imitation of existing official merchandise (being parasitic fan/franchise symbiosis), and home made original merch (being multualistic fan/franchise symbiosis). But this analogy has gone too far.